Some individuals are more vulnerable to serious stress reactions and lasting difficulty, including those with a history of:
- Other traumatic experiences (such as severe accidents, abuse, assault, combat, etc.)
- Chronic medical or mental illness
- Chronic poverty, homelessness, unemployment, or discrimination
- Recent or earlier major life stressors or emotional strain (such as divorce or job loss)
People affected by disasters should try to:
- Focus on what’s most important to themselves and their families TODAY
- Try to learn and understand what they and their loved ones are experiencing, to help remember what’s important
- Understand personally what these experiences mean as a part of their lives, so that they will feel able to go on with their lives and even grow personally
- Take care of themselves physically, including exercising regularly, eating well, and getting enough sleep, to reduce stress and prevent physical illness
- Work together with others in their communities to improve conditions, reach out to persons who are marginalized or isolated, and otherwise promote recovery
How would I decide if I need professional help? If after the end of a disaster, these normal experiences do not slowly improve or if they worsen with time, it is helpful to find professional support:
- Intrusive re-experiencing (terrifying memories, nightmares, or flashbacks)
- Unsafe attempts to avoid disturbing memories (such as through substance abuse or alcohol)
- Complete emotional numbing (unable to feel emotion, as if empty)
- Extended hyperarousal (panic attacks, rage, extreme irritability, intense agitation, exaggerated startle response)
- Severe anxiety (paralyzing worry, extreme helplessness)
- Severe depression (loss of energy, interest, self-worth, or motivation)
- Loss of meaning and hope
- Sustained anger or rage
- Dissociation (feeling unreal or outside oneself, as in a dream; having “blank” periods of time one cannot remember)
–International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)
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